Uconn

Connecticut guard Kelly Faris (34) during the second half of an NCAA women's college basketball game against South Florida Saturday, March 2, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. Connecticut won the game 85-51. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

STORRS — After four seasons of toiling in anonymity and doing the dirty work for the UConn women's basketball team, Kelly Faris finally received some postseason recognition.

The 5-foot-11 senior guard, who has played the role of defensive stopper for several years, Thursday was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year in a vote of the league coaches. In recognition of her becoming more than just a defender this year, she was also named co-recipient of the Big East Most Improved Player, along with DePaul's Brittany Hrynko.

"It definitely feels good. I say it over and over: I'm not huge on the accolades and getting the individual awards,'' Faris said. "But at the same time, I appreciate it a lot and I'm honored that they felt that I deserve that. I wouldn't want to get it if I didn't feel, or if they didn't feel, like I deserved it.''

There was no question in Geno Auriemma's mind Faris earned her honors.

"She certainly deserved it," Auriemma said. "When you work at something, you should be rewarded for it. I think what Kelly does, it's not so obvious sometimes. So I think for the other coaches to recognize that about her is fitting. It's a great way to wrap up your senior year. I wish she would've made first-team (All-Big East), but that's asking too much."

Faris said that while she appreciates that others recognize her hard work, she would gladly trade in her individual accolades for the Big East regular season championship the Huskies lost to Notre Dame on Monday.

"Who wouldn't?" Faris said. "Great, I got Defensive Player of the Year, but I could've got a whole Big East

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regular season. That's way up here and the other one's way down here. So anyday, yeah, I'd trade it.''

Faris didn't practice Thursday because of a sprained ligament in her left foot, but she said there is no way she will miss Sunday's Big East Tournament quarterfinal. She injured the foot on the last play of the first half against Notre Dame, but she played all but 39 seconds of the second half and all three overtimes.

Auriemma said there was a slight possibility she wouldn't play Sunday.

"I don't know what he's talking about," said Faris, who wore a walking boot. "That's not an option. I'll be playing. If it was up to me, I would be practicing today."

Faris has started in 106 consecutive games, which is tied for third with Jamelle Elliott. She has played in 145 consecutive games which is tied for fifth all-time with Jessica Moore.

Faris, who was also named All-Big East second team, was one of six Huskies honored by the Big East on Thursday in the first round of postseason award announcements.

Stefanie Dolson and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis were named to the 12-member All-Big East first team with Mosqueda-Lewis being one of three players unanimously chosen to the team. Faris was the lone UConn representative on the all-conference second team while Bria Hartley and Breanna Stewart received honorable mention recognition.

Stewart and Moriah Jefferson were named to the 10-player All-Big East rookie team, with Stewart one of four unanimous selections.

The only postseason awards Faris had earned prior to this season were All-Rookie team honors during the 2010-11 season and All-Big East honorable mention as a sophomore. While others were busy collecting awards, Faris was significantly impacting games in a variety of ways.

She recently became only the second player in UConn history to amass 1,000 career points, 750 rebounds, 500 assists and 250 steals. The only other player to accomplish that feat was Maya Moore. Faris currently has 1,037 points, 764 rebounds, 510 assists and 278 steals.

Faris became only the third UConn player to earn the Defensive Player of the Year, joining Ashley Battle (2003) and Nykesha Sales (twice, 1997 and 1998). She is also the third to earn Most Improved player, joining Mel Thomas (2006) and Ketia Swanier (2008).

"I think Kelly is the best defensive player in the country," Mosqueda-Lewis said. "It is just how tenacious Kelly is. It is the fact that she is just not going to let you score on her. If she wants to get that stop, she is going to get it and she is willing to do anything to do it. She will dive on the floor. She will dive on you. She is getting the ball regardless."

This marks the first time either Dolson or Mosqueda-Lewis has been named to the All-Big East first team. Dolson earned honorable mention recognition last year as a sophomore. Mosqueda-Lewis was named to the second team last year and also won the Rookie of the Year and the Sixth Man of the Year awards last year.

The league's major awards for this season will be announced today with it expected to be a sweet for Big East champion Notre Dame. Skylar Diggins, last year's Player of the Year, is expected to win that honor again while Irish coach Muffet McGraw is expected to win the Coach of the Year honor and freshman Jewell Loyd is the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year.

The last time UConn failed to win at least one of the three major honors was the 2005 season when Jacqueline Batteast of Notre Dame won Player of the Year, C. Vivian Stringer of Rutgers was the Coach of the Year and Matee Ajavon of Rutgers was named Rookie of the Year.

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